Alexander III Flashcards
What were the changes Alexander III made to the local government?
- Alexander appointed ‘Land Captains’ which had the power to override elections to the Zemstvo and village assemblies and to disregard zemstvo decisions. Land Captains were made responsible for law enforcement and government in the countryside and could ignore the normal judicial process, overturning court judgements. They were given unlimited power and abolished the old position of justice of the peace.
- A further act in 1890 changed election arrangements for the Zemstva, so as to reduce the peasants vote
But Zemstvo still continued to improve roads and hospitals.
What changes did Alexander III make on policing?
- The number of police was increased and new branches of the criminal investigation department were set up.
2.There was also a drive to recruit spies, counter spies and agent provocateurs, who posed as revolutionaries in order to incriminate others. - By 1882, any area of the Empire could be deemed an ‘area of subversion’ and police officers could search, arrest, detain, question, imprison or exile not only those who had committed a crime, but any who were thought likely to commit crimes or knew or were related to people who were thought likely to commit crimes. This gave them tremendous power over people’s lives particularly since any such arrested person had no right to legal representation.
- Okhrana were established (secret Police) which made 10,000 arrests and infiltrated mail.
What changes to education did Alexander III make to education?
University Statue 1884:
1.Universities were closed for women
2. all university life was closely supervised
3. students were forbidden from gathering in groups of more than five
4. children from the lowest classes were to be restricted to primary education
5.primary education was placed firmly in the hands of the orthodox church
What opposition was there to Alexander III?
‘Emancipation of Labour’ group was established in 1883, which not only translated and arranged for Marxist tracts to be smuggled into Russia but also sought to demonstrate that marxism was fully applicable to Russia. Moreover, a number of workers organisations, illegal trade unions, Marxist discussion circles and other groups developed, spreading radical marxist ideas more widely.
Although opposition to the regime had the opportunity to weaken it, Alexander III’s strict reforms meant these movements appeared to stand little chance of success in the face of Tsarist repression.
Sergei Witte’s work?
- Sergei Witte, the prime minister, was totally committed to economic modernisation as a means to curbing revolutionary activity. He wanted to make Russia’s economy strong enough to elevate it as a world power. Witte believed that the only way forward was to continue to protect tariffs, heavy taxation and forced exports to generate capital.
- Witte also sought additional loans from abroad and foreign investment increased considerably. Much of this investment went into mining, the metal trades, oil and banking. Witte also encouraged engineers, managers and workers from France, Belgium, Germany, Britain and Sweden to oversee industrial developments and advise on planning and techniques.
- He prioritised railway. Nearly 60% of all steel and iron was used in railway production and built the Trans Siberian Railway.
- He adopted the Gold Standard which awarded foreign investors greater security.
What was effect of these economic reforms?
- Grain export increased and Russian budget was in surplus. This remarkable export drive was at the expense of the peasants, however. The peasants who paid taxes saw their grain requisitioned by the state and thus, left with no reserve stores for the winter.
- There was a huge expansion on the railway network.
- Russia’s rate of growth enabled it to move up the league table of industrialised nations to become the world’s fourth largest industrial economy by 1897.
- Increase in Russian exports and foreign trade
How much did grain export increase by?
18%
Why did Alexander III engage in a policy of cultural Russification?
To merge all the Tsar’s subjects into a single nation with a feeling of shared identity
Where was the destruction of non-Russian national cultures particularly marked?
In Finland - The parliament was reorganised in order to weaken its political influence, the use of Russian language increasingly demanded, the independent postal service was abolished and Russian coinage replaced the local currency
In Poland - The Polish National Bank was closed and in schools and universities, the teachings of all subjects except the Polish language and religion had to be in Russian.
Baltic Germans - enforced to use Russian in all state offices , elementary and secondary schools, the police force and judicial system.
Georgia and Ukraine - Laws limited the use of the Ukrainian language and all the theatres in the five Ukrainian provinces were closed.
How was the Orthodox church involved with Russification ?
Adherence to the Orthodox church was encouraged everywhere, with laws benefitting those of orthodox faith. In the Baltic region 37,000 Lutherans converted to Orthodoxy.
Catholic monasteries were closed down and the influence of Catholic priests was curbed.
Members of non- Orthodox Churches were not allowed to build new places of worship, wear religious dress or spread any religious propaganda.
What were the results of Russification?
Russification was not accepted without resistance. In June 1888, there was an estimated 332 cases of mass disturbance.
Supporters of Russification genuinely believed they were acting for the greater good of Russia. They believed it was necessary to unite the country in order to improve its administration, to allow for modernisation and to reassert Russian strength.
Strong nationalistic feeling throughout Europe.
Many also believed Russification was a misguided policy that had the opposite effect from that intended. As it drove the wealthier citizens to emigrate and persuaded others who might otherwise have proved loyal, to join opposition groups.
Which group suffered the most from Russification?
Jews
Where were Jews confined to?
Pale of Settlement
What was the Pale of Settlement ?
Region in the South and West part of European Russia which Jews were confined to
Describe Alexander III’s anti Semitism
It was encouraged by Pobedonostsev
Russian press had helped to encourage the belief that Jews had orchestrated Alexander II’s assassination
In poorer areas society hated Jews because they resented their money lending and personal riches
